Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the consultations that have taken place with any, or all, of the parties to the Good Friday Agreement in relation to the Government's proposals to merge the Irish Human Rights Commission with other agencies; his views on the implications for co-operation between human rights commissions on an all-island basis as envisaged in the agreement. [38364/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish Human Rights Commission was established in July 2001 in accordance with the commitment contained in the Good Friday Agreement to establish Human Rights Commissions both in this jurisdiction and in Northern Ireland. The Agreement also envisages a Joint Committee of representatives of the two Human Rights Commissions, North and South, as a forum for the consideration of human rights issues on the island of Ireland. This Joint Committee was established in 2001.

As you will be aware, decisions in relation to the operation of the Irish Human Rights Commission are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Dermot Ahern T.D.

As indicated in the Budget announced on 14 October 2008, the decision in relation to the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission is that they are to integrate their facilities, back office, administrative service and access for citizens. There was no provision for a merger of the two bodies. Neither is it envisaged that the changes will have any implications for the cooperation between the two Human Rights Commissions set out in the Agreement. Against this background the question of formal consultations with the parties to the Good Friday Agreement did not arise.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress that has been made in recent times in Northern Ireland with regard to such areas of contention as devolved policing and justice, the Irish language, education standards and use of the Maze prison site; the contribution the Irish Government has made to such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38379/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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While significant progress has been made towards the full implementation of all aspects of the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement, the Executive is at present experiencing difficulties in coming to agreement on a number of issues.

The devolution of policing and justice remains the most pressing of these issues. It is the shared view of the Irish and British Governments that the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly should take on this responsibility as set out in the St. Andrews Agreement. While therefore it is primarily for the parties to reach agreement between themselves on when and how this should take place, the two Governments remain actively engaged and ready to assist the parties to resolve their outstanding difficulties on this issue. In this regard, I reviewed the overall situation in detail with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in London on Tuesday 28 October, and later that week with the deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, in Belfast. In this regard also, I welcome the statement of the First Minister, Peter Robinson, at his party's Conference on Saturday that he hoped the Executive will in a few weeks be able "to get through the present difficulties and to build for the future". I also take encouragement from, and pay tribute to all involved, for the peaceful passing of last Sunday's parade and protests in Belfast.

Upon restoration of devolution in May 2007, the enhancement and protection of the Irish language in Northern Ireland became a devolved matter for consideration by the parties in the Executive. Minister Ó Cuív has discussed progress in this regard in his meetings with his counterpart in Northern Ireland, the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Mr. Gregory Campbell MLA, and his predecessor, Mr. Edwin Poots MLA. Minister Campbell has indicated that he will brief the Northern Ireland Assembly's Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure in the coming weeks on progress that has been made in developing a language strategy. I will continue to carefully follow developments in this area, and to review them with the Secretary of State.

As devolved matters, the subject of education standards and any decision on the regeneration of the Maze/Longkesh site are for the consideration of the Northern Ireland Executive. I would encourage the parties, however, to find an agreed way forward on these issues as soon as possible.